Over the last eight months or so, we have been trying to reconnect with each one in the XDS family. We have seen the group grow to a 102-strong force.

The common sentiments that we hear from the group include the longing to see fellow XDS grantees and mentors, know how each one is doing, and to many, a desire to thank and perhaps, give back to the University.

I am pleased to share with everybody the following updates/plans:

1. The UP XDS Association, Inc. was registered with the SEC as a non-stock, non-profit association on September 4, 2004 (Regn. No. CN200614007).

2. The primary purpose of the Association is to encourage poor but intelligent students to pursue and complete any college degree or professional training to enable them to pursue a decent livelihood, through the provision of scholarships/assistance.

3. The Interim set of officers include Yolly Herrera-Frayre (Corp Secretary), Jess Ventura (VP-External), Aida Aragon-Borlaza (Board Member/BM), Amorsolo Rosario (BM), Tony Fudolig (Treasurer), Norma David-Camunay (BM), Debbie Lorenzo (BM), Nandy Dean (BM), and yours truly as the Interim President.

4. We envision that through this Association, we can be of help to others, but we will also need to help ourselves. We wish to be able to provide scholarships not only to unknown students but perhaps to the children of XDS also.

5. The December 17 "Parangal" is a night we offer to our mentors, and at the same time, our attempt at gathering ourselves together, for the first time, after more than twenty years of starting our careers individually. We also hope that we could raise some amount which we could give to the UP scholarship fund to the UP President (who will be invited to attend the Parangal)on December 17.

6. By January 2007, we hope to start fund raising activities for a UP XDS scholarship fund (targetted to be turned over to UP by June 2008). We also envision that we will have our regular set of officers in January.

All XDS grantees (about 500 in all from the five batches) are potenntial members of the Association. Our Membership Committee will soon be coming out with membership procedures for all.

Wish you all a fruitful week!

Vic